Though the war in Afghanistan has siezed to be the hot topic, the war is not quite over. The 2010 influx of Marines and Army soldiers largely subdued the Taliban on their home turf. Post-surge, the capital cities of those provinces are more peaceful than they have been in many years,and the Taliban operate only quietly in the rural areas. But operate, they still do.
Bringing the troops home. "Obama’s plan has been to reduce the risks of failure by a slow and steady withdrawal process: scaling back the allied combat role, speeding up the training of Afghan forces, and turning over all combat to the Kabul government by the end of 2014. Accordingly, he’s reduced the troop 100,000 high point by 10,000 already and expected to take out an additional 22,000 by September.That will leave some 68,000 U.S. troops in the country until after the November elections, and things will stand through November." 'Any American mission in Afghanistan, or presence of troops there would be only at the invitation of the Afghan government and a possible post-2014 presence would be aimed at training its forces and targeting the remnants of al-Qaida.' the Pentagon has said.
Reasoning the people of Afghanistan refrain from speaking out agaisnt the Taliban is because thier protection only lasts as long as American soldiers are present. As son as the soldiers depart, they fear the Taliban will return and they will have to face the conequences. “Unless the Pakistanis do more about those insurgents crossing the border into Afghanistan, you’re going to have a critical security challenge, it makes the situation post-2014 more precarious than it would be otherwise.”
- Mark Jacobson, a former NATO official in Afghanistan at the German Marshall Fund. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/10/world/asia/teen-school-activist-malala-yousafzai-survives-hit-by-pakistani-taliban.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Can U.S still be successful? With the time he have left, which is a little over a year, I don't think we will be able to accomplish our main goals. The Afghan government is not strong enough to protect themselves against the Taliban on thier own. I believe it will take a significantly longer amount of time, and with the money spent, lives lost, and a dissaproving population back home, we cant afford to keep them there much longer.
Recent Activities
Though the war in Afghanistan has siezed to be the hot topic, the war is not quite over.
The 2010 influx of Marines and Army soldiers largely subdued the Taliban on their home turf.
Post-surge, the capital cities of those provinces are more peaceful than they have been in many years,and the Taliban operate only quietly in the rural areas. But operate, they still do.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/taliban
Taliban Control in Afghanistan.
Bringing the troops home.
"Obama’s plan has been to reduce the risks of failure by a slow and steady withdrawal process:
scaling back the allied combat role, speeding up the training of Afghan forces,
and turning over all combat to the Kabul government by the end of 2014.
Accordingly, he’s reduced the troop 100,000 high point by 10,000 already and expected to take out an additional 22,000 by September.That will leave some 68,000 U.S. troops in the country until after the November elections, and
things will stand through November."
'Any American mission in Afghanistan, or presence of troops there would be only at the invitation of the Afghan government
and a possible post-2014 presence would be aimed at training its forces and targeting the remnants of al-Qaida.' the Pentagon has said.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/03/18/why-obama-won-t-speed-u-s-troop-withdrawal-in-afghanistan.html
http://rt.com/usa/news/us-troops-2014-afghanistan-625/
Dilemma of Afghani people
Reasoning the people of Afghanistan refrain from speaking out agaisnt the Taliban is
because thier protection only lasts as long as American soldiers are present.
As son as the soldiers depart, they fear the Taliban will return and they
will have to face the conequences.
“Unless the Pakistanis do more about those insurgents crossing the border into Afghanistan,
you’re going to have a critical security challenge, it makes the situation post-2014 more precarious than it would be otherwise.”
- Mark Jacobson, a former NATO official in Afghanistan at the German Marshall Fund.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/10/world/asia/teen-school-activist-malala-yousafzai-survives-hit-by-pakistani-taliban.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Can U.S still be successful?
With the time he have left, which is a little over a year, I don't think we will be able to accomplish
our main goals. The Afghan government is not strong enough to protect themselves against the Taliban
on thier own. I believe it will take a significantly longer amount of time, and with the money spent, lives lost,
and a dissaproving population back home, we cant afford to keep them there much longer.